Paying Attention:
Bringing Pride to the Education System
By Denise Tang

Education, in common terms, is often linked with institutions, classrooms, teachers, students, parents and guardians. Education may hold different meanings for different people. Some think of education as the key factor to achieving personal success and to obtaining family acceptance. Others think of education as a privilege, an unfulfilled dream and a choice for those who can afford it. But education is more than just this. In understanding the pervasive forces of homophobia in our society, we must ask ourselves how our public education system perpetuates discriminating attitudes towards - and measures against - lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender persons. School discussions pertaining to sexuality are still confined to heterosexuality and the nuclear family. This type of exclusive curriculum clearly contributes to the silencing of queer issues. The mere mention of a queer subject is enough to evoke defensive reactions from parents and teachers.

In the United States, a national survey of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students by the Washington, D.C.-based National Youth Advocacy Coalition found that 86 percent of youth reported hearing homophobic remarks in their classrooms, 28 percent reported experiences of physical harassment (being shoved, pushed) and 14 percent reported experiences of physical assault (being beaten, punched, kicked). The experience of Asian Pacific American youth was no different from the general population: 94 percent reported hearing homophobic remarks in school and 13 percent reported being physically harassed.

In July 2000, Edward Cheng Ming Tang - a Chinese immigrant, successful businessperson, father and gay man - established the Pride Scholarship to help APA lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth achieve educational pursuits and dreams, proudly and without shame. Each year, the Queer Asian & Pacific Islander Pride Scholarship Fund will award scholarships totaling $16,000 to deserving applicants.

"The goal of this landmark scholarship program is to help eradicate the isolation, invisibility, homophobia and heterosexism faced by thousands of Asian and Pacific Islander [LGBTQQ] youth living in the Bay Area and beyond," said Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center's executive director, John Manzon-Santos. "An equally important outcome will be that all teachers, parents and young people who learn about the Pride Scholarship will be reminded that their Asian and Pacific Islander students, children and friends might be struggling to come out and need their support."

Anne Lundbom, one of last year's Pride Scholarship recipients, described the meaning of education as "trying to find a purpose in [her] life, a never-ending quest for your truth." Being bisexual, APA and of mixed race ancestry, Anne grew up amidst intense struggles and conflicts within herself, and among others that rejected her sexual and racial identity. In talking about her family, Anne said, "Amongst my friends, my mother hated the queer kids who were getting good grades and involved with helping the community. She loved the Filipino kids who hardly went to school and were vandalizing the community." Anne also recalled her mom always saying, "You are not a Filipino. You are an American." It left Anne wondering whether it was her mother's homophobia or internalised racism that contributed to the way she treated her. Anne felt that she was not accepted as "a real Filipino" among other APA students.

She received her primary support through the Gay Straight Alliance in her high school. Her parents reacted against Anne by mobilizing other parents to protest against Gay Straight Alliances in public school systems. Eventually, Anne left home at the age of 17 to live on the streets of San Francisco. She experienced daily harassment by passersby and cops. After having worked for more than a year at Community United Against Violence, she was able to gain housing and to develop new goals and dreams for her future. At the age of 20, Anne founded a nonprofit organization, Progressive Martial Arts, a modern, step-by-step method of training in the art of conflict prevention with an emphasis on social change and on fighting oppression every day. As the head instructor, she teaches free classes on Mondays and Thursdays at SOMA Recreation Center. The Pride Scholarship enabled Anne to continue her martial arts education and to take courses in Philippine Studies at the City College of San Francisco.

This scholarship recognizes these challenges and strives to break down barriers in order for APA LGBTQQ youth to achieve their educational goals. "Young people need to see positive images of themselves," commented Ed Tang at a reception honoring the scholarship recipients. "The Pride Scholarship is one way to help." The work is spearheaded by youth from A&PI Wellness Center's queer youth program, AQU²⁵A, who coordinates the scholarship‚s recruitment and selection process. Scholarship applicants must be 22 years old or younger; of APA descent; identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQQ); live in the San Francisco Bay Area; be a senior in high school; have a high school diploma or GED, or be attending a college or university; and indicate financial need.

The scholarship application form is available online. If the purpose of education is to decolonize knowledge and to understand the world we live in, we first need to provide a safe space for all to fully participate in this dialogue.

The article first appeared in the April, 26, 2002 issue of Asian Week